Game One Box Score  //  Game Two Box Score

SAN ANTONIO – Angelo State and Incarnate Word split a pair of one-run decisions in a Lone Star Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Daniel Sullivan Field.

The Rams (17-10, 3-4 LSC) took a 9-8 win in the opener before the Cardinals (16-10, 2-5 LSC) won the nightcap 5-4. ASU, which leads the series 2-1, moves to 9-3 on the road with UIW snapping a five-game losing streak with the win.  The two teams will return to action for the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday with Bryce Zak (3-1) scheduled to make the start for ASU.

“We are very fortunate that we split here,” ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. “We did a good job of battling back to get the win in the first game, but we slipped back to our old habits in the second game. We need Bryce Zak to go deep in the game for us tomorrow and we can't keep making errors.”

ANGELO STATE 9, INCARNATE WORD 8
Hunter Choate drove in Ryan Greer for the game-winning run with an RBI single to shallow right field in the top of the ninth and Bryant Rutledge (3-1) earned the win after finishing the game with 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball as the Rams earned the 9-8 extra-inning win in the doubleheader opener on Saturday.

The Rams were down 6-0 through four innings in the game before Reggie Rodriguez delivered a three-run, two-out double to right center field in the top of the fifth inning to get the Rams on the board and cut into their deficit. ASU would take its first lead of the game at 7-6 with four runs in the sixth inning.

McKinnon delivered the first run of the sixth with an RBI double to right field, while LaCombe took a bases loaded walk to score McKinnon on four pitches. ASU tacked on the final two runs of the inning after a throwing error by the UIW shortstop off the bat of Rodriguez which scored Neumann and Summers.

UIW would score its final two runs of the game in the sixth inning, but the Rams tied the game in the seventh when pinch runner Michael Lange scored on a wild pitch after getting into scoring position with a steal of second and advanced to third on a Choate groundout to second base.

Angelo State starter Mike Weatherly struck out four, walked three and gave up four earned runs in 3.1 innings in his seventh start of the season. Weatherly, who gets a no-decision in the game, was relieved by four ASU pitchers before Rutledge came in. The bullpen, which included Jaime MacLean, Travis Stavinoha, Mason Leavitt and James Conlee, teamed up to allow only two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings.

INCARNATE WORD 5, ANGELO STATE 4
The Cardinals scored the game-winning run on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh inning to salvage the doubleheader split against the Rams.

Jake Feckley (4-3) receives the loss after striking out five and allowing five runs in six innings of work. Feckley left the game with runners on first and second and no outs. UIW went for a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, but Rutledge who was on in relief short-hopped McKinnon at first base and the winning run scored.

McKinnon and Neumann each finished the game with two hits each, while Choate drove in a run with a fifth-inning single to tie the game at four. Neumann and LaCombe each tripled and scored in a two-run third inning.

Alex Schaffer earns the win for the Cardinals after striking out seven and getting through nine ASU hits in 6.2 innings of work. Derrick Walls and Ryan Pudwell each had two hits, while Lukas Miller added two RBI.